Beam scale with user friendly features

Abstract

A beam scale for measurement of body weight and height according to the present invention includes a frame and a weighing mechanism. The frame includes a base assembly, a pillar assembly, and a horn assembly. The weighing mechanism is housed within the frame and includes a beam, weights, and a lever assembly. The horn assembly may include a transparent holding bracket having a level indicator. The scale may include a height measurement assembly having a height rod, a sheath supported by the horn assembly and the pillar assembly, a measuring arm, and a transparent height-measuring window having a line indicator. The frame may include a quick assembly mechanism to secure the pillar assembly to the base assembly during final assembly, quiet wheels for transport, and/or handle bars to support the user. Much of the frame may be made of pigmented thermoplastic or thermoset materials to reduce manufacturing costs and scale weight.

1. A beam scale comprising:
 a frame including a base assembly, a pillar assembly attached to the base assembly, and a horn assembly attached to the pillar assembly; 
 a weighing mechanism including a beam, weights, and a lever assembly, the weighing mechanism housed in the frame; and  
 a height measurement assembly having a sheath supported by the frame, a height rod slidably arranged within the sheath, a measuring arm slidably engaging the sheath and the height rod, and a transparent height-measuring window having a line indicator, the transparent height-measuring window slidably engaging the sheath.  
 
 
   
   
     2. The beam scale of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath is supported at a top end by a partial collar extending from one of the pillar assembly and the horn assembly and at a bottom end by a socket supported by one of the pillar assembly and the base assembly. 
   
   
     3. The beam scale of  claim 1 , wherein the height measurement assembly includes a support device, and the support device interfaces the sheath and the height rod, causing the height rod to temporarily remain in an extended position when partially extended from the sheath by a user, while permitting the user to adjust the extension of the height rod back from the sheath. 
   
   
     4. The beam scale of  claim 3 , wherein the support device includes one of:
 a magnet, a deflecting spring, at least one stationary washer, and a cog mechanism.  
 
   
   
     5. The beam scale of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath and the height rod display height numbers to indicate a user's height, the height numbers incrementally increasing from a lower portion of the sheath to an upper end of the sheath and from an upper portion of the height rod to a lower end of the height rod, and wherein the transparent height-measuring window may be slid between the lower portion of the sheath and slightly past the upper end of the sheath an intersection of the sheath and the height rod, so that the transparent height-measuring window may overlay a height number correlated to the user's height whether the height number correlated to the user's height is displayed on the sheath or on the height rod. 
   
   
     6. The beam scale of  claim 1 , wherein the height rod engages a releasable locking mechanism that releasably locks the height rod in a fully extended position from the sheath; wherein the sheath and the height rod display height numbers to indicate a user's height, the height numbers incrementally increasing from a lower portion of the sheath, across an intersection of the sheath and the height rod, and to an upper portion of the height rod; and wherein the transparent height-measuring window slidably engages the height rod and may be slid between the sheath and the height rod in the fully extended position, so that the transparent height-measuring window may overlay a height number correlated to the user's height whether the height number correlated to the user's height is displayed on the sheath or on the height rod. 
   
   
     7. The beam scale of  claim 1 , wherein the height rod, the measuring arm, and the transparent height-measuring window are made of transparent rigid plastic. 
   
   
     8. The beam scale of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the horn assembly includes a transparent holding bracket having a level indicator;  
 and the weighing mechanism has a pointer extending from the beam;  
 
     wherein the transparent holding bracket bounds the pointer and limits the motion of the beam.